textproduct: Amarillo

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 150 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

- Windy conditions continue this afternoon and evening, with gusts up to 50 mph in the northwestern Panhandles.

- Low temperatures Friday night are forecast to dip below freezing for many portions of the combined Panhandles. A Freeze Watch has been issued to account for counties most likely to meet or fall below 32 degrees.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 150 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

The upper level, cutoff low in Colorado continues its progression eastward as it becomes ingested in the main upper level trough. Winds at the surface have flipped from the north and strong, northerly flow will continue across the southern High Plains until high pressure settles in Saturday morning.

Today, the last of the precipitation from our rain event is moving through Collingsworth county and will eventually transition fully into western Oklahoma. Though additional rain has fallen in those areas this morning, no flood products are anticipated due to rain rates being too steady for any further impacts. Surface winds are expected to be stronger today than Friday. Gusts up to 50 mph are likely in the northwest combined Panhandles, while gusts between 35- 45 mph are more likely for the rest of the Panhandles. Temperatures today should only reach the 60s, but a few locations in the southeast TX Panhandle may reach 70 degrees.

Tomorrow, strong winds continue with gusts up to 40 mph possible. As cold air becomes reinforced across the area, morning lows will range from the mid 30s to lower 40s. A few locations in Cimarron and Dallam county even have a low chance to reach 32 degrees by Friday morning. By the afternoon, temperatures should cap out in the 50s while sky coverage remains partly cloudy to mostly sunny. With temperatures on the downtrend and wind speeds staying high in the morning, a wind chill will be present across the CWA. Friday morning apparent temperatures may feel as cold as the mid 20s in the north, while temperatures will feel as cold as the 30s for the rest of the Texas Panhandle.

Rangel

LONG TERM

(Saturday through next Wednesday) Issued at 150 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

Confidence continues to increase for freezing temperatures Saturday morning. A Freeze Watch has been issues for areas that have at least a 50% chances for temperatures 32 degrees or below. Temperatures may be as low as the mid 20s in the OK Panhandle and northern TX Panhandle. Winds will become much lighter on Saturday with the arrival of our upper level high.

Highs Saturday onward will steadily increase and we approach the new week. 80 degree temperatures are currently expected to return by the midweek. Low temperatures should be the coldest on Saturday as well, and lows will eventually recover back into the 50s next week. We are watching the development of a new upper level system that could impact us by Wednesday and Thursday next week. PoPs return for that time frame, but changes are still expected as more details about the incoming system are realized.

Rangel

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1231 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

Ceilings are clearing out at all sites and VFR conditions will eventually settle in later this afternoon. Strong winds continue at all sites as well, with gusts potentially reaching up to 45 kts. Later tonight, VFR conditions should prevail at all sites; however, they are expected to be impacted by low level wind shear. Surface winds will decrease overnight as a result, but wind speeds will kick up again once the sun rises Friday morning.

Rangel

AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...Wind Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for TXZ001-006.

Freeze Watch from late Friday night through Saturday morning for TXZ001>014-016>018-317.

OK...Wind Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for OKZ001.

Freeze Watch from late Friday night through Saturday morning for OKZ001>003.